About Dayphoto

My name is Linda Brown. I live on a farm on the western slope of Colorado, in the high mountain desert. I’ve lived here all my life, hailing back four generations on my father’s side. Today I blog about our farm, the everyday activities that keep the farm going. I also write about my thoughts and dreams and goals. On Friday’s I always write about TLC Cai-Cai. Our sweet kitty who helps keep the farm safe. And Boo Berry Betty, a breeder dog learning to be a Farm Dog! The lovely thing about blogging it opens the world up for all of us to reach out and meet people from many different cultures and different ways of life. You can find me every day (but Saturday) at https://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/ Your Friend on a Western Colorado Farm, Linda Brown

The Adventures of Boomer on Friday—Calf Check

Posted on February 27, 2015 by Dayphoto

In a small break in the weather, meaning no snow and a melt of sorts, (But no sun) Mom, Dad and I loaded up on the four-wheelers and headed out to check the cows and calves.

If you look where the big white arrow is pointing you will see a tiny calf. Mom has her baby all snuggled up and warm against here body.

See the brand new baby trying to get up. Mom just gave birth here.

All the cows are really tame, we can drive through them (slowly) and they never spook. I ride all the time, because just seeing me trotting alongside WOULD spook them. Mom says I have to stay right next to her.

This one is hidden behind the equipment at the equipment storage area.

Mr. Davis and his daughter check them twice a day, sometimes three times a day always, always making sure the moms and babies are doing okay. If there is one that is having trouble Mr. Davis and Theresa load them up and take them back to their really nice barn on the ranch.

For us, Mom, Dad and Myself, Boomer the Beagle,—we go out on the off-times to makes sure all is well. Just this morning we heard the coyotes moving around in the cows, never a good thing.

So far all is right with our world.

Boomer

As February Leaves—Thursday, February 26, 2015

Posted on February 26, 2015 by Dayphoto

Winter is still with us….flinging flakes of very wet snow here and there in a willy-nilly sort of pattern.

Wind with very icy fingers stab and pull at you and every other living thing.

I do believe winter is throwing a huge fit, because you know…really we all know …that the time has come for Winter to leave. It doesn’t matter how ugly and how hard winter demands for us to pay attention Winter IS in charge. Stamping its blue and icy foot..the earth is tilting ever so slowly.

The sun moving toward the warm point of spring and then summer, casts brilliant colors, which fiercely sends warning sounds, for winter to calm down. Enough is enough.

The weather people are saying winter is still very preoccupied trying to keep a foothold on our part of the world–this bitter, cold tantrum will weaken and strengthen over several more days, then the middle (Wednesday) of the first week in March, the sun and the earth will send warmth and comfort back to the land with temperatures rising into the 50’s for several days. Perfect for drying up snow and mud.

So go ahead and throw a fit, make it a good one, for soon you, Old Man Winter, will be banished to other parts and the gentle cherub of Spring will dance it’s way into our hearts and souls.

Go Ahead, spend yourself out —soon you stay in your room and cry huge hiccuping sobs until you are spent and need to rest to recover. We will just wait you out.

Your friend,

Linda

February Ends with a Bang–Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Posted on February 24, 2015 by Dayphoto

The weatherman says these snow storms are going to stay in here for a good solid week. With snow levels increasing to 18″ or more in some places. We have 8″ right now.The nice thing about this late snow is it won’t last…the warmth will return and the winds from the west will arrive. Until then we hunker down.

Your friend,

Linda

Winter Returned—Monday, February 23, 2015

Posted on February 23, 2015 by Dayphoto

It started snowing hard yesterday afternoon flinging the snow into the night and on to the morning, where it is still snowing today. Big soft wet flakes of pristine whiteness.

Of course there are more babies out there…we counted three, just hours old, but up and following the Mom. That is in the bunch close to the house. The older calf is somewhere else, I haven’t seen it this morning.

Winter has returned here. Storm warnings are until tomorrow with 18″ on Cerro Summit. Water should be good this year. 🙂

Your friend on a Western Colorado Farm,

Linda

One–February 22, 2015

Posted on February 22, 2015 by Dayphoto

There is a new little critter on the farm! I don’t know if its a male or female, but to me it doesn’t matter. We saw this darling little calf yesterday.

Since we are in the middle of a arctic blast, cold winds and snow flurries (it will leave out of here by Tuesday) there will probably be several more.

Your friend on a Western Colorado Farm,

Linda

The Adventures of Boomer on Friday—Hank Came

Posted on February 20, 2015 by Dayphoto

Hank came to visit!

Hank Puff Cake McCormick. Well, his whole family came to visit, but I was much more interested in Hank. Hank and I do lots of things together, he even sleeps on the back porch with me. Hank sleeps where Fuzzy slept and I sleep where I always sleep.

The first night here Hank kept going outside and doing naughty things. The first time Hank went out and barked at the cows…Mom got up and scolded Him and made him come back to bed.

Then around mid-night Mom smelled a skunk…getting up and checking on us she saw that Hank was NOT on his side of the porch… “HANK! You get in HERE!” She hollered.

Thankfully Hank has just gone out and was still standing on the back step when Mom called him. Back in he came, which was a good thing, because there really was a skunk out by the trash cans. (Hank is not known to ovoid skunks…just saying. I do—I got sprayed once. Once was enough, I make SURE to ovoid them at all costs now.)

The third time Hank barreled out the back door Mom was right behind him. Mom was up putting wood in the woodstove so Hank didn’t get too far out the door again. This time Mom locked the door. Just as she locked the door she saw the Fox move through the yard.

“Oh, Hank! What are we going to do with you? Stay IN!” There is too much trouble out there, for you to get into, and then have to travel all the way back to Craig.”

Hank looked at a very mad Mom, hung his head and settled in to sleep the good sleep.

The next two nights Hank was decent and didn’t barrel out the backdoor every two or three hours. Which is a good thing, because Mom was getting very tired of his barking all night stuff.

Still we had lots of fun in the daytime, but the most fun was when Mr. Davis and his three cow dogs came through the yard to check on the cows. Twice a day they drive through…morning and evening. Twice a day Hank and I barked them down the lane and hollered at the three cow dogs in the back of the pick-up.

Suddenly it was time for Hank to leave. The family packed up the van and loaded up Hank and drove down the road…sigh.

OH! Well! He will be back, until then I’ll bark Mr. Davis and his three cow dogs down the lane and through the farm yard!

Yes I will!

Boomer

Fire Roads—Thursday, February 19, 2015

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Dayphoto

Terry and I spent yesterday sprucing up the fire roads. We lived here for years and years and never had to have fire roads, but in 2012 all that changed.

Our neighbor two miles from us started a fire on one of his fields and left for lunch. Didn’t check or stay with it or, well, anything. From 11 in the morning until around 2 in the afternoon he didn’t even know what the fire was doing.

We did! We knew! And so did the other people in the path the fire. The whole thing was frightening. It took several fire departments to put out the blaze, which didn’t occur until evening…in the process we almost lost a barn and all the farm equipment. Thankfully, Mr. Davis’ cows and calves were okay. It was a nightmare day.

Guess what…the next year he sat his fire again…I just don’t get people who use fire to clear the farm ground….put it back into the soil…it’s better for the soil and the air. Not to mention safer.

After the first fire we built fire roads, because you see, this man STILL burns off his land every spring, he says he likes the results better. 😦

This is the tractor I drive, it has the loader. The loader and Terry’s has the blade, we make a good team. After years and years of hand signals, I think I am FINALLY figuring them out. 🙂

While up there we checked for calves, nothing yet. I think those girls are going to all pop at the same time! One day we will look out and see 60 babies on the ground. There are 80 cows out there, but surely not all 80 will lay down a calf as the same time. 🙂

Off today to look for a wood chipper and log splitter. I would like the wood chipper for the two yards for mulch and Terry is tired of splitting wood by hand. We may not find one we like but at least we will start the process of looking!

Your friend on a Western Colorado Farm

Linda

A Weekend Update—Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Dayphoto

I have returned! What a glorious weekend…first day we celebrated Tallin’s 7th Birthday! Everyone came and showered her with very fun things to make and ‘stuff’ to do AND a Diary with a Lock and TWO KEYS! (Guess what she played with the most…the Lock and the two keys! 🙂

Today I was starting to clean up the house when I found the two keys places in a very safe spot, under a beautiful plastic heart. Aren’t children fun? I need to gather all things left behind and mail them to them. The keys will be most missed, I’m sure she is frantic. 🙂

The next day (Sunday) we went to a Mardi Gras Party at our daughter and son-in-law’s in Grand Junction. There was tons of food, some ingredients they had shipped in just for the occasion–several different types of gumbos, budan, beans and rice, cray fish…I can’t even remember all the different dishes they had.

Monday it was pack up and leave time, BUT before we said good-bye everyone went to the Shannon’s Salon (also in Grand Junction) for hair cuts, colors and whole new looks for the coming spring. I think the little family probably got back home to Craig, Colorado at 8 o’clock in the evening…a long day for them.

A cold front moved through yesterday, but we only received sprinkles and wind..Just enough wet to make the windows dirty!

Today I’m cleaning the house back up—you clean for the company then you clean after the company 🙂 –but everyone knows that.

Soon Terry and I will begin again on the winter farm projects–this time we will be hauling in dirt from one of the ‘settling ditches’ and building up our farm roads, dirt ditches and holes in the fields. Farming will start around the 10th of March, if the weather holds, so we must get the winter work finished.

I will be around soon to visit all of you!

Your Friend,

Linda

Dear Friends–Sunday, February 15, 2015

Posted on February 15, 2015 by Dayphoto

Dear Friends, my kids from Craig, Colorado are here today so I’m taking a small break. I will visit your blogs and answer all your emails and comments right after everyone leaves.

Thank you for understanding — these grandchildren are growing so fast…why just yesterday I noticed that our Grandson is almost as tall as I am. I suppose that is what happens when you get into Jr. High…you grow! Since I feel like I’m missing out on lots of stuff I want to hang out with them as much as possible.

Your Friend,

Linda

The Adventures of Boomer on Friday—Too Much IS Too Much!

Posted on February 13, 2015 by Dayphoto

“Let’s go, Boomer!” Mom said as she walked out the back door. “Time to go see if there are any babies.”

GO! I’m always ready for GO! I trotted right behind Mom, then I gave a little jump and hit my head on Mom’s left hand! I’m here, Mom! I’m ready!

Mom stopped walking and knelt down and gave me lots of rubs and pets. I smiled so big the sun didn’t seem so bright!

“Okay, Boomie-Boo, Dad’s already got the gate down and on his four-wheeler, let’s get ours and head out.”

Off-we-go

Mom lifted me up on back, ever since I blew my knee out, Mom won’t let me jump up on the back of the four-wheeler or the pick-up. She picks me up every time. ‘Your knee has healed, Boom-dog; it needs to stay that way’.

Off we went…first to the equipment area, then down into the bulrushes, which is by the alfalfa field —see the paths the cows are making. If one goes they all go the same way.

Then over to Coyote Hill, into all the fields, through the Rabbit Brush Jungle, over on the Rocky Point to look down into the Back Forty, then the Upper End; and onto Sage Brush field going past the pond. After which we drove the mile to home. It was a BLAST! (Since it’s been rather warm here the wind in my fur felt really nice!)

Anyway, no calves yet, but soon.

When we got home my oldest sister was there waiting for us with her pack: A Rottweiler–Rocky the Chaco Man, Houston (Houston can climb trees) she is a Mountain Cur Hound, Molly a Blue Tick Hound, Beauty a Black Lab and Etta and Shiloh, White Cloud Walker Hounds.

They are all hollering and yelling at me to go with them for a run down in the Rubidoux Canyon, I jumped up and put my paws on the truck, so Mom put me in the back with them.

Suddenly they all started screaming at me, hollering and baying and yelling…it was just toooooooooo much!

SO I JUMPED OUT!!!

Mom was highly alarmed that I hurt my knee again, but I didn’t. Which was good. I hid behind Mom and I hugged her legs. I AM NOT GOING WITH ALL THOSE LOUD DOGS, MOM! I pled with her. One or two at a time but not EVERYONE!!!

Mom reached down and petted me, “That’s okay, Boomer! You don’t have to go— sometimes too much company is just too much.”

Everyone gave me lots of pets and belly rubs.

Then Shannon got in her truck and drove off…all the dogs barking. I heard them baying as they passed the other house heading toward the canyon.

Whew I’m glad I didn’t have to go!